02 May, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
02 May 1949: MPO95068 Michael Roy Nelson Grey Thompson, a bricklayer working for the South African Army, died in hospital suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. He was 33.
02 May 1977: 76927672SP Corporal Pedro Gomes Massaki from 32 Battalion was killed in an accidental mortar bomb explosion during training. He was 25.
02 May 1978: 54134499PE Warrant Officer Class II Thomas Ignatius Potgieter from Chief of Staff Operations suffered a heart attack and died later in 1 Military hospital. He was 40.
02 May 1978: 05139241PE Warrant Officer Class I James Nicholas van As from 2 Signals Regiment was found dead in Pretoria with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was 48.
02 May 1979: 75359992BG Trooper Thomas Ignatius Jacobus Steenkamp from 2 Special Service Battalion attached to 4 Vehicle Reserve Park, took his own life by gassing himself at his private residence. He was Absent Without Leave (AWOL) at the time of the incident. He was 20.
02 May 1982: 80586357CK Rifleman Karel Titus from the South African Cape Corps was killed after being knocked down and driven over by a civilian vehicle while carrying out road block duties at Eersterivier. He was 29.
02 May 1982: 72481708PE Captain Leon van Wyk from 1 Parachute Battalion Died of Wounds east of Otavi during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. A SWAPO/PLAN insurgent was holding up inside a small zinc pump house that was quickly surrounded by a section of Paratroopers as darkness fell. A heavy volume of fire was brought to bear on the building before Leon tried to enter it. However, the insurgent was still alive and opened fire on Leon with his AK-47 as he burst through the door, hitting him several times in the upper body and chest. The critically wounded Leon sadly succumbed to his wounds a short while later. He was 26. The SWAPO/PLAN insurgent made good his escape in the confusion that followed.
02 May 1984: Special Warrant Officer Benyamen Joseph from the SWA Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (Koevoet) was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 37.
02 May 1985: 80021267SP Rifleman Piet Defransa from 201 Battalion SWATF was killed in a military vehicle accident. He was 21.
02 May 1987: Three members from 5 Reconnaissance Regiment were Killed in Action during a contact with enemy forces at Otchinjau in Southern Angola during Ops Bauwer. They were:
81525792PD Corporal Augusta Fernando. He was 26
81531692PD Corporal Martin Nyamhunga. He was 28
81539553PB Corporal Obadiah Malose Sebata. He was 27
02 May 1990: Two members from the Cape Regiment were accidentally killed when their Buffel Troop Carrier overturned in Mpumalanga. They were:
87951620BW Corporal Andrew Afrika. He was 23.
86074630BW Rifleman Jan Geduld. He was 26.
02 May 1991: 84558428PO Lieutenant Mike Schillings from Group 17 was killed in a military motor vehicle accident 500m from the Unit Headquarters at Vereeniging when a wheel loader crashed into him and the fork of loader penetrated his chest. He was 22.
02 May 1991: 66013699PE Warrant Officer Class II Josias Jacobus du Toit from the South African Infantry Corps died in the Vanderbijlpark Hospital after suffering a coronary thrombosis. He was 47.
02 May 1991: 81546079PB Sergeant Edmond Lapuken Ndlovu from 5 Special Forces Regiment died in the Phalaborwa Hospital after suffering a heart attack. He was 30.
02 May 1994: 91518019PY Bombardier Cornelis Sebastian Fouché from the School of Artillery was killed when his Ratel was struck by a train at a level crossing near Boskop while providing security for NASCHEM during the 1994 election period. He was 21.
02 May 1998: 94836327 Rifleman S. J. Mkhize from the South African Infantry Corps was killed in Phoenix after being shot by persons unknown while he was off duty. He was 22.
02 May 1998: 89716062 Rifleman P. J. Moeketsi from the South African Infantry Corps died of disease in 1 Military Hospital. He was 26.
02 May 1998: 97291090 Rifleman J. L. Monnapula from the South African Infantry Corps was killed in Soweto after being shot by persons unknown while he was off duty. He was 19.
02 May 1998: Warrant Officer Class II Christiaan Jacobus Mouton was killed in a private motor cycle accident at Rietfontein in Pretoria. He was 45.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.